Double-Coated Dogs

Our Approach and Grooming Tips

Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Great Pyrenees, Huskies, Pomeranians, Shelties, and Collies are a few examples of double-coated dogs. These breeds, with their heavy undercoats, require a different grooming approach compared to dogs with softer or poodle-type coats.

The grooming process for double-coated dogs is designed to loosen the undercoat and dirt, removing layers of old, dead hair. The extent of this process depends on how frequently your dog is groomed and how often you brush and wash them at home.

” I love getting brushed!”

Grooming Process for Double Coated Dogs

Conditioning Impacted Coats
For dogs with heavily impacted coats, we may need to apply a mist conditioner to a dry coat and allow it to sit for up to 30 minutes. This step helps break down the oils in the impacted coat and is more time-consuming and costly.

Applying Conditioner to Wet Coat
Next, we apply conditioner to a wet coat and use a high-powered dryer to blast it in. This begins opening the hair follicles and removing dead hair.

Regular Shampoo Bath
We then bathe the dog with regular shampoo and rinse thoroughly. This removes grease and dirt from the coat.

Hypoallergenic Deshedding Shampoo
Another bath follows, this time with a hypoallergenic deshedding shampoo, which helps remove more of the undercoat.

Deshedding Conditioner (Banish)
We apply a deshedding conditioner, such as Banish, and use a high-powered blower to work it into the coat. This helps slide the packed undercoat through the guard hair, making the process easier for both the dog and the groomer.

Rinse Conditioner

Drying and Final Touches

After conditioning, we take your dog into the drying room and blow out the coat, sometimes for 45 minutes or more. Bathing and drying a double-coated dog that comes in only 3-4 times a year can take about 90 minutes to 2 hours. Once the coat is blown out, we finish with fluff drying, brushing, and prepping the coat for any haircut or scissor work.

Shaving Recommendations

We do not recommend shaving heavily double-coated dogs, as their coat protects them from heat and cold and helps regulate their temperature. Additionally, shaving can prevent the hair from growing back correctly and might lead to alopecia over time. For this reason, we recommend no shorter than 3/4 inch all over or simply scissoring the bulk out of the outline to give your dog a beautiful silhouette finish.

Pricing and Frequency

The cost of grooming double-coated dogs depends on the fullness of the undercoat, and the amount of grime and dirt that needs to be removed. Matting situations can also affect the price. While we always shave your pet’s paws and trim the feet and sanitary areas, any additional hair services such as cuts or scissor work will be extra, depending on the extent of the work.

Typically, it costs about $50-60 per hour of work. If your dog comes in more frequently and requires less work, we will adjust the price accordingly. Please discuss pricing with your groomer to avoid any surprises. Prices for double-coated dogs can change depending on their shedding cycle and grooming needs at different times of the year.

Ongoing Shedding Management

Remember that the deshedding process continues at home, as the hair shaft remains open and still drops the coat. This process will not completely stop shedding at home, but with regular treatments, it will improve over time.